The Pi Sigma Fraternity
is a national fraternity which is committed
to the principles of Paglingkuran ang
SambayananandParagon of Scholarship. Forged
at the height of the martial law period, specifically
on 15 August 1972, in University
of the Philippines in Diliman, the fraternity
seeks to contribute to the Filipino people's struggle for a
free, just and humane society as well as to carve a fraternity system that
is not macho-oriented and rumble-prone.

From its lone chapter in the University
of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, the Pi Sigma Fraternity has
since established chapters nationwide, in almost
all UP units, i.e. UP Manila, UP
Los Banos, UP San Fernando, and UP Baguio. Its membership
is spread out in more than forty (40) school and community chapters
in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, and
Mindanao.

History

Much has been said about those turbulent
years before and after the declaration of martial rule in the
Philippines. The late 60's and the early 70's saw the
neocolonial Philippines wallowing in its morass where
the elite controls all societal structures, marginalizing the
broad masses.

Those years shaped our generation. It
brought forth the epitome of idealism in the backdrop of extreme polarization
of the sectors of the society. As the cliche goes, "
it was the best of times, it was the worst of times." It was a generation
then that feels the throbbing onslaught of the 20th century. It was the
time for change, the time to look forward, the time for hope. It also covered
the bleakest years of our post-war history.

It has been said that idealism springs
from deprivation and need. It is within this context why the Pi Sigma Fraternity
was born. Conceived on the thought of nationalism, the fraternity realized
this into its principles, Paglingkuran ang Sambayan and Paragon of Scholarship.

Paglingkuran ang Sambayan embodies the
rationale of the fraternity. The sambayanan is the masses which comprise
more than 70% of the total population. They are the oppressed. They are
the trodden. And they are the majority. They are those who realize the
dreams of wealth and power yet denied of their just share. The principle
recognizes the fact that although the masses are the vital cogs in national
development, they have been treated on the contrary. It is the tradition,
the role and the goal of the fraternity to forward the needs, struggles
and the sentiments of the masses.

Paragon of Scholarship emphasizes excellence
in all fields of endeavor and the pursuit of a nationalist, scientific
and mass-oriented education. It also embodies the emphatic belief that
education should not be limited within the four walls of the classroom.
Education is learning from the masses with the masses. With service to
the people, it is envisioned to develop the fraternal brothers into nationalists.

In
the beginning.

The formative years of the Pi Sigma
Fraternity has been difficult. Besides hurdling the repression of martial
rule, it had also to contend with traditional fraternities.

On August 15, 1972, eight young men
- Emilio Aguinaldo, Noel David, Stephen David, Onofre Galvez, Francisco
Gomez, Oscar Manalaysay, Cesar Romero, Robert Sombillo - gathered at the
Molave residence Hall of the Diliman, Quezon City Campus of the University
of the Philippines. They planted the seeds of the fraternityamidst the
country's worsening socio-political situation. The times cried for it.
The university offered a broad area for organizing and expanding its ranks.
But first, it has to prove the viability of its vision, principles and
objectives, differentiate itself from the traditional fraternities, and
set the appropriate mechanism in carrying out these tasks.

Its consistent and active involvement
in campus activities and anti-dictatorship struggles, gradually increased
its membership and established itself as a respected political fraternity
in the university, Aside from this, it helped carve a fresh outlook towards
the fraternity system.

The Pi Sigma Fraterity's foremost contribution is promoting genuine brotherhood
and camaraderie among its members. A brotherhood not imposed upon its neophytes
through gruelling initiation rites but developed through a recognition
of their common goals and aspirations.

Collective consciousness has been constantly
harnessed as its most potent weapon in consolidating its rank and file
and opening up greater opportunities for personal development.

In February 21, 1975, the Pi Sigma Delta
Sorority was founded with the help of the fraternity --- serving as its
female counterpart. Besides pursuing similar principles and objectives,
the sorority aids in the in the overall women's movement for liberation.
This achievement is part of the strengthening of the fraternity.

The latter half of the decade ignited
the faternity's rapid expansion from the the metropolis to the outlying
regions and provinces. Initially UP-based, chapters were immediately established
in Pampanga, Manila and Baguio . In Metro Manila, organizing efforts were
initiated on the University of the East ( Manila and Caloocan City campuses),
University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University, Feati University, Technological
Institute of the Philippines, and Philippine School of Business Administration.
A community-based chapter was also established in Sta. Ana, Manila.

The establishment of chapters in the
regions and provinces were harder but the fraternity was well-received.
This was true in the Central Luzon provinces (Pampanga and Tarlac), Southern
Tagalog (Laguna and Cavite) and the whole of the Bicol Region. In the north,
Baguio and La Union were hosts to the initial seeds of the fraternity.
Then the Visayas (Iloilo and Bacolod) and Mindanao (Davao and Cotabato
provinces) followed suit.

From these scattered chapters, a national
structure emerged. In March 1979, The First National Convention of Sigmans
was held in Aringay, La Union. In this historic event, the fraternity formally
adopted its national Constitution and By-Laws, established its national
structure and systems, elected its national officers, and set the fraternity's
course for the next years. These were then reviewed, evaluated and updated
in the Second National Convention of Sigmans, held in UP Diliman from April
6-10, 1983.

Socio-political
campaigns.

While the early years of the Pi Sigma
Fraternity were mainly devoted to grassroot organizing and organizational
consolidation, its political tasks were not neglected. After all, its existence
is primarily based on the continued viability of its vison.

In UP in the 70's the fraternity dared
the ban on student organizations and actively participated in the UP students'
struggle for their rights and welfare which culminated in a 6,000-strong
march by the various sectors in the university around the academic oval
in December 1979. The next year, the university administration capitulated
to their demand for the recognition of student councils and organizations.

Involvement in national campaigns likewise
became a necessity. While the 1970's served as the period for breeding
"martial law babies" and " the culture of silence"
, it also nurtured and developed socially-committed and nationalist brothers.

The National Convention offered a quantitative
leap for the fraternity's objoctives. We have now a strong and national
organization collectively seeking a nationalist and democratic society.
It prepared the fraternity for the ardous battle against the Marcos dictatorship.

Truly, the fraternity's members followed
the dictum that education is not confined to the classroom alone. Extracurricular
activities occupy a portion of their time from sponsoring educational venues
such as debates, symposia, fora, discussion groups and assemblies, participating
in campus politics, integrating with the masses, ,and joining in political
actions.

In these endeavors, the fraternity has
produced student leaders, shared the struggle of the oppressed majority
for better living conditions and protection of human rights, and at the
same time, nurtured academic scholars.

The fraternity goes one step further.The
heightened repression of the martial law era opted many to join cause-oriented
and non-government institutions fighting for the cause of the Filipino
people. Many lives, time and effort had been spent by our fraternity brothers
advancing the antidictatorship struggle.

The ascendancy of a new government in
1986 did not stop the flame burning for our vision of a free, democratic,
and prosperous Filipino nation. In fact, recent events have not been favorable
to the fraternity.

In December 1987, Edwin Laguerder (Batch
'79, UP), an adviser of a farmers' organization in Davao, ws brutally murdered
by unidentified men. The following month, Bernie de Guzman ('82, Chevalier
School, Angeles City) was gunned down by PC troopers. In July and
September of 1988, Benito Clutario (Batch '77, UP) of the Kilusang Mayo
Uno (KMU) and Benjamin Lazaro (Batch '77-C. UP) of the Philippine Educational
Theater Association (PETA) involuntarily disappeared in the height of the
rising number of desaparecidos. Many more from the other chapters
and fields of work were either killed, arrested, or have simply disappeared
especially in Mindanao. The fraternity has instilled the ultimate expression
of service to the people. The fraternity salutes the brods who have offered
time, their thoughts, and even lives for the tenets the Sigmans believe
in.

The struggle for a better educational
system and culture is part of the fraternity's vision for a truly sovereign,
democratic, and prosperous Philippines, a vision long conceptualized and
pursued by its founders and alumni, and continues to be a guide for the
present generation.

It sets the fraternity's position on
major issues confronting our nation. It calls for an end to foreign domination
on our internal affairs. It has sided with the farmers' organizations in
its demand for a genuine agrarian reform, and the workers for better working
conditions and higher wages. In general, it has staked itself with the
oppressed majority in framing a society free from exploitation and domination,
and conducive for collective advancement and development.

The idealism and perseverance of the
fraternity's founders have brought the Pi Sigma Fraternity to where it
belongs now, a national organization potentially strong in nation building.

25
years and beyond.

As we celebrate the fraternity's Silver
Anniversary, we look back and assess our efforts in bringing the fraternity
to maturity. Through the ups and dows, the loops and whorls, the fraternity
has emerged strong and tested. The years have given us valuable lessons
and experiences.

The ground work laid down by generations
of Sigmans --- organizational integrity of the national set-up through
constant coordination and communication between chapters, and establishment
of the Pi Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association, the fraternity's alumni
association --- will catapult the fraternity to greater heights in pursuing
our vision and continuing the struggle for a truly nationalist and democratic
society.